Friday, December 20, 2013

Review: Lost in a Royal Kiss by Vanessa Kelly (e-novella)

This is the second free e-novella I've read that introduces a new series (see Kate Pearce). As such, I expected it to accomplish one thing: explain the origins of the Renegade Royals.

It surprises me that this e-novella is only one page more than Pearce's but the pace is slower and more leisurely. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing because it did still manage to tell a complete story while adhering to the short format. And this was my reflection for yesterday: the format is the same, the purpose is the same -- but the approach and style are different. The earlier e-novella was a page-turner: fast-paced and action-oriented, whereas Kelly's storytelling is more relaxed, more languorous -- dwelling on the details of court, of life, of the tenuous situation Anthony and Linnet find themselves in: they serve at court but their positions are not entirely secure and they are beholden to the good graces of their patrons, the king and queen.

The story of Anthony and Linnet poses two questions:
1. Why is Linnet avoiding Anthony? Why can't she tell him her reasons?
2. How will Anthony and Linnet solve Dominic and Chloe's problem?

The story shifts between the unspoken tension between Linnet and Anthony and Dominic and Chloe's problem with Prince Ernest and how Anthony and Linnet are supposed to figure it out -- it made me wonder about the series in general: whether the Renegade Royals referred to Anthony or to Dominic. (If the previous, then the latter's story would have been extraneous and the author should have just focused on developing Linnet and Anthony. If the latter, then his story should have been developed further. In the middle part, Dominic and Chloe disappear from the story and are only mentioned from time to time -- they reappear at the end.)

The bulk of the novella focuses on the conflict between our hero and heroine: Anthony raises this question early in the story -- why is Linnet avoiding him? I thought the answer was very obvious to both of them but Linnet was too much of a lady to speak so frankly and Anthony was too much of a gentleman to presume. In this, Kelly portrays court life so clearly and reveals the very frustrating situation lovers find themselves in during that time.

She'd lost count of the times he'd made her feel like a blushing maiden. Strictly speaking, she was still a maiden, but she'd given up blushing years ago -- along with simpering, flirting, and so many other talents deemed useful to unmarried women.
- loc 212

* * *

Anthony let out a sigh as he watched her go. He had the ear of the king and controlled more of England's business than he cared to think about, but apparently he lacked the wit to manage one small and very stubborn woman.
- loc 577

But I did wish they had the conversation revealing their feelings before they did the deed -- it does not sit well with me when such important revelations happen during such an intimate moment. It makes me wonder at the sincerity of the parties involved -- and this became Linnet's problem too: she doubted and I don't blame her for doubting. If only~

In the heat of the moment, they'd certainly declared their desire for each other, but neither had truly professed any degree of emotion.
- loc 806

I honestly thought Dominic and Chloe had the more interesting story: only 14 and having to grow up faster because of what happened to Chloe. I was relieved to know (through the Epilogue) that I will be reading more about them in the series. In her author's notes, Vanessa Kelly also briefly outlines the stories of the first 3 books and, I have to say, I am intrigued by the idea of spies with a side mission (thus, the Renegade Royal title).

Vanessa Kelly's Lost in a Royal Kiss is Book 0.5 in her Renegade Royals series. This e-novella is currently FREE on Amazon. The first book, Secrets of Seducing a Royal Bodyguard will be released on January 7, 2014. To find out more about Vanessa Kelly and her books, click below: